Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1866-1935
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BOWFARTS, n.pl. in phr. i(n) th(e) bowfarts, in difficulty, implying inability to rise or to free oneself. [′bʌufərts]Mry.1 1923:
"I'm fair in the bowfarts" said by a little boy who got confused in putting on his trousers.Mry.4 1935:
"Bowfarts" was used when we got into a difficulty physically or mentally from which we could not get clear (that is, by our own efforts). A person in such a difficulty was said to be in the "bowfarts."Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 15:
The littlin's i' th' bowfarts. Help it up, or 't'll hurt itsel'.Bnff.2 1935Abd.13 1910:
If a child goes in between its father's legs and he crosses his legs so that the child can't get out, it is in the bowfarts.
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"Bowfarts n. pl.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 17 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/bowfarts>
